Tractor cultivator



Sept. 14, 1948. 1', BROWN 2,449,159

TRACTOR CULTIVATOR Original Filed Sept. 1'7, 1942 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 1 AT E NT 'FH'CE TRACTOR GULTI'V-ATOR Theophilus Brown, Moline, "111., assignor'to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill, a corporation of Illinois Griginal application September 17, .1942, Serial Divided and this application Fe'blruary 3,.1945, Serial No. 576,026

14 Claims. (01597-4?) The present invention relates generally to tractor cultivators and has for its principal obje'ct :the provision of a novel and improved tractor cultivator for cultivating a single row of crops. "This application is a division of my 'copending application, Serial No. 458,? 12,7fl1ed September 17, 11942, new U. S. Letters Patent 2,378,615, issued June 19, 1945..

.A more specific object relates to the provision of a, tractor cultivator inwhich the operator .is

afforded an unusually clear and unobstructed view of the row of plants being cultivated and also of the cultivating tools as they engage the soilrbeside the plants. According to the present invention, the operator's seat is placed at the forward end oflthevtractor framedirectly above and behind the tools, and the engine is disposed at the rear end of the frame where the connections with the rear traction wheels are shorter and moredirect.

Still another object of thistinvention has to do with the provision of a novel and improved front truck for the tractor, of such construction and'arrangement as to provide a clear and unobstructedlspace between the two frontsdirigible Wheels for mountingc'ultivating tools and other implements, providing a clear view thereof from the operators seat, and by virtue of the position of such tools adjacent the front wheels of the tractor, thedirection of travel of the tools can a bevquickly and easily changed or controlled by steering of the tractor, such as when cultivating corn and othercrops. A relatedobject has to do with the provision of means for mounting cultivating tools on the foretruck of the tractor, the latter being ,rockable about a longitudinally extending axis, therebyproviding for movement of the tools with the foretruck when traveling over uneven ground.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention willbe apparent tothose skilled in the art after a consideration of the'follow-ing description, in Which reference had .;to the drawings hereto, in which r l r t Figure 1 is e-plan view :of a tractor with culti vator attachment, embodying the principles of the "presentinvention; a

Figure 2 is aside elevational viewiof the tractor cultivator;

a .Figure .3 isr-a :plan view :of the forward end of the tractor frame, showingin detail the connection of the .foretruck tothe "forward end "of the frame; and

"Figure Aisha. sectional elevational view through 2 the tractor frame, taken along a line 4- 4 "in Figure 3.

Referring "now to the drawings, the tractor frame comprises a paircf laterally spaced frame members formed by a structural angle bar H) bent into a ll-shape as best shown "in 'Fig-urefii, the ends of the bar it being securedby bolts H to the lower portion of an internal combustion engine i2, and a unitary'transmission housing l3 rigidly bolted to the cylinder block of the engine it means of bolts 14, the frame bar lb, engine l2, and housing 43 constituting a narrow longitudinally extending tractorbody.

The rear end of the transmission housing is provided with aligned openings in-the opposite side walls thereof, respectively, and having annular flanges it about the openings. pair oilateral-ly extending tubular rear axle housings ll are provided with annular flanges 1 18 which lie in abutment with thefianges l6 on'the transmission housing and are fixed thereto *by bolts l9.

The outer ends of the housings I"! are provided withdownwardly turned final drive housings :65, eachcont-a-ining apair of fina1 drive-gears (not shown) for driving a stub axle 69 on which is mounted a rear traction wheel T1.

The engine [2 is cooled by mean's of a water cooling system including a radiator mounted on a pair of laterally spaced lugs 8| on top of the unitary transmission housing l3, the latter being provided with a rearwardly and downwardly inclined top wall 82 in order to position the radiator 83 as low as possible. A water cornpartment is provided at the top of theradiator 8i) and is connected with the engine through suitable hose connection 84. The lower end ofthe radiator is, of course, connected with the lower part o'f'the engine by another suitable hose connection '(not'shown').

The radiator all is cooledby afan 85 disposed directly ahead of the radiator on the rear end of a drive shaft 86 which is journaledina pair of front and rear brackets 87, 88, respectively. ihe brackets are rigidlyfixed to the front an'd ends or the cylinder head B'Q. A belt pulley ill is fixed to the forward end of thefandrive shaftilfi and is connected by a suitable V-lo'elt ill or the equivalent, with a drive sheave 92 mounted onthe forward end, of the crankshaft 93.

-An operator's 5821395 is "carried on a support :ing bracket as which'is secured by supporting bolts "57 on'the front of the engine block. The seat s5 is positioned above the forward endof the engine l2 and is highen'ough so "that an operator seated in the seat 95 can look rearwardly over his shoulder and obtain a clear and unobstructed view of the ground directly behind the rear axle housings II.

A fuel tank IIO is disposed between the operators seat 95 and the water compartment 83. The forward end of the tank is supported on brackets III carried on the cylinder head and the rear wall of the tank lies against the forward wall of the water compartment 83 and is fixed thereto by any suitable supporting means.

The front of the fuel tank isinclined downwardly and forwardly beneath the rear of the seat 95 to provide clearance for the latter.

The forward end of the tractor frame I is carried on a Y-shaped foretruck, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral H2. H2 comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical bearing portion IIB, journaled at its front and rear ends in bearings I I4, I I5 mounted on the frame I0 and providin for rocking movement of the bearing portion H6 about a generally horizontal, centrally disposed axis, and a U-shaped axle beam member I I6 that is rgidly fixed, as by welding. to the front end of the bearing portion II 3, which extends forwardly beyond the tractor frame I0, as best shown in Figure 3. The U- shaped axle member H6 consists of a structural beam of I-section. the ends of whch are bent to provide a pair of forwardly diverging arms. At the forward end of each arm a vertically disposed sleeve II'I is rigidly fixed, as by welding, and within which sleeve is disposed a vertical spindle I I3, the lower end of which is provided with anoutwardly extending axle II9. A pair of supporting wheels I20 are journaled on the axles I I 9, respectively, substantially in fore and aft alignment with the rear traction wheels I I. The spindles H8 extend upwardly beyond the tops of the sleeves II! and areprovided with crank arms I 2 I which extend rearwardly therefrom. The crank arms I2I are interconnected by a transversely disposed tie rod l22, and one of the spindles, the one on the rightside of the tractor as viewed in Figure 1, is provided withan extra crank arm I23 extending laterally inwardly, and is pivotally connected with arearwardly extending steering link I24, the latter being connected at its rear end to a crank arm I 25 on a rockshaft I26, which extends laterally inwardly -to a conventional Worm gear mechanism I21 on the lower end of a steering column I28, which is mounted on the forward end of the tractor frame in front of the seat 95; upper end of the steering column in convenient position to the operator. If desired, the steering column I28 can be of the angularly adjustable type to provide fore and aft adjustment of the wheel I29 relative to the seat 95.

It is evident that the above described foretruck, by virtue of its pivotal connection with the tractor frame, is sufiiciently flexible to follow the uneven contour of the ground and to distribute the weight of the tractor and associated tools upon the two front wheels. The amount of rocking movement of the foretruck, however, is limited by means of a pair of stop arms I35, mounted rigidly-on a hub member I36, embracing the bearing portion N3 of the Y-shaped truck member H2. The hub I36 is fixed to the central bearing portion II 3 by means of a set screw I37, as best shown in-Figures 3 and 4. The stop arms I35 extend laterally over the lower flanges of the tractor frame I0, but are spaced above the latter to provide a limited amount of rocking movement A steering wheel I29 is fixed to the vating tools or other implements, which, when so placed are not only in a convenient position for observation from the operators position, but can be accurately controlled by steerin the dirigible front wheels I20-oflthe tractor.

The foretruck I The drawings show a pair of cultivator rigs mounted on the forwardly diverging arms II6 of the foretruck II2, respectively, to position the cultivating .tools on opposite sides of the fore and aft extending center line of the tractor, for the purpose of cultivating a row of crops over which the tractor straddles to place the plants beneath the tractor center line.

Each of thetwo cultivator assembles I40, I4I, comprises a supporting beam I42, rigidly fixed by means of removable bolts I43 against the inner sides of the arms H6, and extending forwardly from the forward ends of the arms and terminating ahead of the .dirigible front wheels I20. A stub arm I44 is rigidly fixed, as by welding, to the front end of the beam I42 and extends laterally inwardly therefrom and terminates at a point outwardly from the center line of the tractor in order to provide a clear space for the plants in the row to be cultivated. A cultivator supporting bracket I45 is rigidly clamped by means of a bolt I46 to the arm I44, the latter being of square cross section. Lateral adjustment of the bracket I45 is obtainable by loosening the bolt I46 and sliding the bracket laterally along the square arm I44.

The bracket I45 is provided with a pair of lugs I41, formed on the rear side thereof, to which are swingably connected a pair of draft links I 48, I49, spaced vertically and extending rearwardly therefrom. The rear ends of the links I48 and I49 are I pivotally connected by means of bolts I50 to a generally vertical standard I5I, which is rigidly fixed as by welding to a generally horizontal rig beam I52. A plurality of cultivating tools I53 are mounted on each of the rig beams I52, in spaced relation therealong. Each of the tools comprises a vertical shank I54, secured by a U-bolt clamp I55 to the rig beam I52 and extending downwardly therefrom. At the lower end of the shank I54, a cultivator shovel I56 is pivotally connected by a-transverse bolt I57, permitting the shovel I56 to swing rearwardly when it encounters an obstruction in the field during operation. Normally, the shovel is held in operating position by means of a pair of toggle links I58, which are urged into locking position by a spring I59. Inasmuch as the details of the cultivator tools are not considered a part of this invention, a detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary.

Each of the cultivator rigs is raised and lowered through a crank arm I65, fixed to the upper link I48 and extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end of the crank arm I65 is pivotally connected by a trunnion I66 to a collar I61 embracing a control rod I68. A compression spring I69 embraces the control rod I68 ahead of the collar I61 and bears against a collar I10 fixed to the forward end ofthe control rod. The two rods. I 68 for the two'cult'ivator assemblies I40, I4I, extend rearwardly in diverging relation and are pivotallyconnected to a pair of upwardly extending arms I72, which are rigidly fixed to a transverse rockshaft 113, the latter being journaled in a *pair of supporting sleeves lMfixe'd to the tractor frame Ill and extending laterally outwardly therefrom. One ofthe arms H2 is extended upwardly toserve as ahandle I15, which is secured in adjusted position by means of a conventional latch mechanism ilt, which engages a *netched sector I11, fixed to the supporting sleeve *I' 'M and carried thereby. By pulling the lever W5 "rearwardly, the spring IE9 is compressediorcing the cultivator shovels downweirdly into the ground, but allowing them to heat against the action of the spring [69. When the lever H5 is swung forwardly,a collar I80 on the"'-rod "[68 engages the collar it? and swings thearm I forwardly, thereby raising the links MB, ltliland the cultivator rig. The collar I 'is 'adjustably fixed 't'o therod its at any desired position thereon by means of a set screw l8l.

*Thus it is evident, that each of the cultivator rigs is permitted a limited amount of vertical floating movement independent of the other, while both rigs aremounted on the foretruck and therefore swing with the latter about the fore and aftextending axis of the centralbearing po'rtion 11 3. There is suiilc'ient looseness in the connections between the rockshaft I73 and the arms T65 to provide fora limited amount of rocking movement of the foretruck. The weight of the cuitivator rigs is counterbalanced by means of a spring I connected between a lag I86 on the side oithetra'ctor frame and an arm l8! on the ro c'kshaft 173.

During operation, the operator sits on the seat 95 or stands on the platform, I88, which is supported 'on the frame members It. A clutch pedal I89 isdispos'ed at the forward edge of the platform I88 and .is connected by suitable means (not shown) to the clutch mechanism in the usual manner. A pair of brake pedals I90, 19!, are mounted at opposite sides of the clutch pedal I89 and are connected by brake rods I92 to a pair of brake band actuating'members 1%, for operating independent brakes on the two drive axles in the axle housings I1. Thus, either of the brakes can be applied separatelyfor purposes well-known to those'skil'led in the "art. The clutch pedal I89 has a lateral extension I94 adjacent the brake pedal [9i on the right side of the tractor, to permit the clutch to be released by the right foot of the operator when he is applying the brake pedal E with his left foot. The change-gears in the transmission housing It are controlled by a gear shift lever I95 extending forwardl to a position within reach of the operator. It will now be clear to those skilled in the art that the machine shown and described herein has distinct advantages as a one-row tractor cultivat-or. The operator has full and complete vision of the cultivator shovels, directly in front of him without any obstruction to his line of vision, and by virtue of the position of the Cultivators relative to the front wheels, the guiding of't he cultivators along a plant row is facilitated.

I claim: I V

1. Ina tractor cultivator, a framaa 'front axle member connected thereto by means providing for relative lateral rocking movement about a fore and aft extending axis, wheels mounted at the outer ends of-said axle member, a pair of cultivator supporting beams detachably secured to said axle member in laterally spaced relation and extending forwardly from said axle member, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed in laterally spaced relationunde'r said axle member, and'generaiiy ferwardlyextending means tor comes-tine said rigs 'to the rerwaru portions of said beams, respectively, providing for vertical movement at said rigs relative to said beams generally under neat-h said axle member. 7

2 In a tractor cultivator, a framaa front axle member including forwardly diverging sections an eiieraiiyaewnwardi extending spinme receiving means at the forward ends 'ofs'aid ni- L ng sections, wheels "mounted on said spindie receiving seetiohs or said axle m'ei'nber, a pair o'f supporting beams fixed to the forwardly diverging Portions of said axle member in laterally spaced relation and extending forwardly th refrom generally directly ahead of said spind eneceiving sections, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating a sin'gle row of "crops beneath said frame, and means for connecting 'said rigs to the forward ends of said beams, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs relative to "said beams.

, 3. In tractor cultivator, a frame, a front "axle member "comprising forwardly diverging section's having l-spindle-receiving portions at their forward ends, wheels mounted on the spindle-receiving portions of said axle 'member, a pair of cultivator supporting beams fixed to the forwardly diverging sections of said axle member in 1aterally spaced relation and "extending forwardly therefrom generally in front of "said spindle-receiving portions, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed in laterally spaced relation and'having cultivating tools mounted thereon for'cultiv'ating a single row of crops beneath said frame, means for connecting said rigs to the forward ends of said beams, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs'relative to said beams, and an operators seat mounted on said frame above and behind said axie member and positioned so that the operator's line of sight, when the operator is seated on said'seat, extends downwardly to the front rigs generallybetween the forwardly diverging sections of said front axle member, so as to provide the operator with 'a clear and unobstructed view 0% the ground between said YES.

4. In a tractor cultivator, a 'ii-ama'a front axle member *connectedthereto by means providing for relative lateral rocking'moveme'nt about a fore and aft extending axis, supporting wheels mounted at the outer ends of said axle member, a pair er cultivator supporting beams fixed to said axle member in laterally spaced relation and extend ing 'forwardlytherefrom as cantilever supports, a pair of cultivator rigs'disposed in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating a single row of crops beneath said iramepme'an's for connecting said rigs to the forward ends'of said beams, respectively, providing forvertic'al movement of said rigs relative to said beamsami 'ineansrci-raisingsaid rigs eiimul'taneously "including a pair of lifting supper-ted near the forward ends of said a'pa-ir of links connected with saidlifting arms-and extending rearwardly alon said beain's, a rocksh'aft disposed transversel "behind said axle nicer, means connectin sai "lie-ks with Said clans-it, and means for iock-ingsa-id rockshait to lift s aitlrigs} I 5. "Ina tractor cultivator, a frame, an opera torssea't mounted-near "the forward endof "said name, an t-axle inernbei lmounted at the forwardend oi the frain'e'and havingarm portions sagaw diverging forwardly to provide a clear space therebetween, a wheel mounted on the outer end of each arm portion, a cultivator supporting beam rigidly mounted on the forward end of each of said arm portions, a pair of vertically spaced links pivotally connected to each of said beams generally forward of the divergin arm portions of said front axle member and extending rearwardly therefromand a cultivator rig swingably mounted at the rear end of each pair of links, said rigs being disposed side by side in said clear space within the direct line of vision of an operator seated on said seat.

6. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of diverging arm portions, bearing means at the forward end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms extending ahead of said frame in diverging relation, wheels mounted at the forward ends of said arms, a pair of cultivator supports fixed to said arms adjacent the forward ends thereof, respectively, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed between the ends of said arms in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultirating a single row of crops therebetween, and means connecting said rigs to said cultivator supports, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs relative thereto.

7. Ina tractor cultivator, a frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supportin portion and a pair of diverging arm portions, bearing means at the forward end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms extending ahead of said frame in diverging relation, wheels mounted at the forward ends of said arms, and a pair of cultivator supporting beams rigidly fixed to said arms adjacent the forward ends thereof, respectively, and extending forwardly therefrom, stub bars fixed to the forward ends of said beams, respectively, and extending inwardly toward each other but terminating at their inner ends in laterally spaced relation to permit a row of crops to pass therebetween, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed between said supporting beams in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating said crop row therebetween, and means connecting said rigs to said stub bars, respectively, providin for vertical movement of said rigs relative thereto, said connecting means including means adjustable laterally on said stub bars for varying the lateral spacing between said rigs.

8. A motor cultivator comprising a, longitudinally disposed frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of diverging arm portions, bearing means at the front end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extendin axis with said arms diverging ahead of said frame, a dirigible front wheel mounted on the outer end of each of said arms, a cultivator supporting beam rigidly mounted on each of said arms and extending forwardly therefrom, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed side by side between said front wheel supporting arms, means swingably connecting said rigs with said supporting beams, respectively, an operator's seat mounted at the forward end of said frame to position the operator to obtain a clear view of said rigs during cultivating operation on a single row of plants beneath the frame, an. engine mounted on said frame behind said seat, and a pair of laterally spaced rear traction wheels mounted on said frame behind said motor and operatively connected thereto.

9. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, an operators seat mounted near the forward end of said frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of diverging arm portions, bearin means at the front end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms diverging ahead of said frame to provide a clear space therebetween, a wheel mounted at the outer end of each arm portion, a cultivator supporting beam rigidly mounted on each of said arm portions and extending forwardly therefrom, a pair of vertically spaced links pivotally mounted at the forward end of each of said beams and extending rearwardly therefrom, a cultivator rig, swingably mounted at the rear end of each of said pairs of links, said rigs being disposed side by side in said clear space within the direct line of vision of an operator seated On said seat, a crank arm connected to one of each pair of links, a pair of operating rods pivotally connected to said crank arms and extending rearwardly therefrom over the adjacent axle arm portion atopposits sides of said clear space, respectively, a transverse rockshaft journaled for rocking movement on said frame behind said clear space, and

means for rocking said rockshaft to raise and a lower said rigs.

10. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, a front axle member connected therewith, supporting wheels mounted at the outer ends of saldaxle member, a pair of cultivator supporting beams fixed to said axle member in laterally spaced relation and extendin forwardly therefrom as cantilever supports, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed in laterally spaced relation and havingcultivatin tools mounted thereon for cultivating a single row of crops beneath said frame, means for connecting said rigs to the forward ends of said beams, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs relative to said beams, and means for raising said rigs simultaneously, including a pair of lifting arms connected with said rig connecting means for raising and lowering the latter, a pair of links connected with said lifting arms and extending rearwardly along said beams, and means on said frame rearwardly of said axle member for shifting said links to raise and lower said rigs.

11. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, a front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of forwardly diverging arm portions, bearin means at the forward end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms extending ahead of said frame in diverging relation, wheels mounted at the forward ends of said arms, a pair of cultivator supports fixed to said arms, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed between the ends of said arms in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating a single row of crops therebetween, and means connecting said rigs to said cultivator supp rts, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs relative thereto.

12. In a tractor cultivator, a framaa front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of forwardly diverging arm portions, bearing means at the for-ward end of sald'frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a, fore and aft extending axis with said arms extending ahead of said frame in divergin relation, wheels mounted at the forward ends of said arms, a pair of cultivator supports fixed to said arms and extending forwardly therefrom, the forward ends of said supports having laterally inturned sections, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed between the ends of said arms in laterally spaced relation and havin cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating a single row of crops therebetween, and means connecting said rigs to the laterally inturned portions of said cultivator supports.

13. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, an operators seat mounted near the forward end of said frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of diverging arm portions, bearing means at the front end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms diverging ahead of said frame to provide a clear space therebetween, a wheel mounted at the outer end of each arm portion, a cultivator supporting beam rigidly mounted on each of said arm portions and extending forwardly therefrom,

a pair of vertically spaced links pivotally mounted at the forward end of each of said beams and extending rearwardly therefrom, a cultivator rig swingably mounted at the rear end of each of said pairs of links, said rigs being disposed side by side in said clearspace within the direct line of vision of an operator seated on said seat, a crank arm connected to one of each pair of links, a pair of operating rods pivotally connected to said crank arms and extending rearwardly therefrom across the adjacent axle arm portion, generally at the outermost part thereof, and at opposite sides of said clear space, respectively, and means connected with said pair of operating rods to raise and lower said rigs. I

14. In a tractor cultivator, a frame, a Y-shaped front axle member having a central supporting portion and a pair of diverging arm portions,

10 bearing means at the forward end of said frame for rockably mounting said central portion on a fore and aft extending axis with said arms extending ahead of said frame in diverging relation, wheels mounted at the forward ends of said arms, and a pair of cultivator supporting beams rigidly fixed to said arms adjacent the forward ends thereof, respectively, and extending forwardly therefrom, each of said beams having laterally inwardly directed sections extending inwardly toward each other but terminating at their inner ends in laterally spaced relation to permit a row of crops to pass therebetween, a pair of cultivator rigs disposed bet-ween said supporting beams in laterally spaced relation and having cultivating tools mounted thereon for cultivating said crop row therebetween, and means connecting said rigs to said laterally inner end portions of said laterally inwardly directed sections, respectively, providing for vertical movement of said rigs relative thereto.

THEOPHILUS BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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